Author: Cherie Renae

I used to keep quiet when others proclaimed religious and political perspectives with which I vehemently disagreed. It seemed impolite to challenge them by offering a different perspective. After all, everyone has the right to their opinion. Then one day, one of these people made the comment, “We just have to keep shouting until we get our way.”

And I realized that my silence does not serve me or the world. If I keep quiet, then only the strident extremists are heard.

I have worked, from that day forward, to be heard above the cacophony as a voice of love, a voice of compassion, a voice that would rather err dramatically on the side of mercy than to fall one step to the side of injustice.

We should forget, day by day, what we have done; this is true non-attachment. And we should do something new. To do something new, of course we must know our past, and this is all right. But we should not keep holding onto anything we have done; we should only reflect on it.

And we must have some idea of what we should do in the future. But the future is the future, the past is the past; now we should work on something new.

“This is our attitude, and how we should live in this world.

–Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

A couple of years ago, I participated in a discernment process for spiritual service. The consensus amongst my committee of twelve was that I was, indeed, called.

But then my life changed dramatically. I married and I moved. I thought perhaps my spiritual call would be played out through my photographic art and written word, so I laid aside active pursuit of formal spiritual vocation.

Turns out, the Divine didn’t.

I’ve been feeling a niggling throughout the winter. It turned into a sharp elbow in the ribs over the past few weeks. I acknowledged it to Bryan a couple of days ago, and together we’ve watched the holy Spirit roar her affirmation.

So, though I don’t understand how it will turn out, I’m going to resume the path. I was praying this morning, and I asked God to give me a clearer vision, because it seems impossible to me. The response?

“If I gave you a clear view of the meandering path, you’d cut a straight swath to the destination, and miss everything you need to see (and learn) in the curves.”

Damn. Oops. I mean, Blessed be.

I loved this commentary by Derek Penwell. Yes. YES!

Perhaps we’re finally going to see the end of obsessive consumerism, and the beginning of a world where ‘enough’ is enough. If our hands aren’t full of ‘stuff’, they are free to stretch out to the world – to give and to receive.

“Aversion is the flip side of greed, the same desire from a different direction.” – Stephen Mitchell, Tao Te Ching

One of the causes of my late husband’s death was an unnatural attachment to money. In my grief, I responded by eschewing monetary gain. It was an attempt to cleanse the suicidal stain he splashed across my life, but it did not set me free.

We say, “My <mother/father/spouse/teacher> told me not to do/say this. By golly, I’m going to do/say it to my dying day. I’ll show them.” We love our righteous indignation. It feels so…empowering. But it’s a deceiver, because it’s accompanied by chains, not wings.

A reaction *against* gives power to the thing, not to ourselves, and the more strongly we react, the more strongly we’re bound. We are only free when we do not react, but instead act from our own center, with our own impulse, fueled by our true passion. Arising out of, not in reaction against.

So I’ve learned to embrace abundance in all forms, including monetary. As long as I don’t become attached to it but allow it to flow in blessing through me and into the world, it is not evil, but another embodiment of godliness. Everything can be an avatar of She who Is, if we have the right intention.

Note: Mitchell’s version of tao te ching is fresh and inspiring. It’s a good introduction if you’re new to the tao, and it’s an interesting new perspective if you have studied the words of Lao-tzu. Here’s a link: tao te ching

As I sit at my desk, I see the stream is high, thanks to the unrelenting rain. The pond had almost dried up due to an inlet blockage, but it’s full to the brim now. The detritus dam must have been washed away by the insistent push of winter’s waters.

What an apt analogy. For a season, I’ve felt so dry. But today, the ever-moving Divine waters have burst through that which blocked me, and now I’m filling up.

Our bodies need care. As watercolor years smear by, our exuberant movements often slow against the rush of years, stiffening into desk-bound motion followed by an exhausted slump into our evening chair. But if we are to avoid declining health and advancing pounds, we must MOVE!

After a year of suffering from exhaustion, I found myself unable to complete even a gentle yoga class. So I searched for something short, gentle, but effective. I found a duo of 10-minute workouts by Mariel Hemingway and Rodney Yee. It’s part of a series called Yoga Now!  You can see it here: Yoga Now.

“Ariyawen, a Meditative Gathering” is finally gathering!

As we celebrated the life of MLK at church yesterday, I was convicted by his call to action, by his message of active justice and active peace.

I began Ariyawen with a vision of bringing people of diverse spiritual perspectives together, to celebrate what joins us rather than debate about what divides us. It was intended to be
an online presence, yes, but more than that, I envisioned it as a physical gathering of people – a safe environment where we could be authentic, where we could share our struggles, our triumphs, and together work toward lasting joy.

Come. Gather with me to share, to meditate, to laugh and to talk and to hope. My doors are open the second Sunday of every month, beginning at 3 pm. If you would like to join us, please email me at ariyawen@gmail.com, so I may have adequate refreshments. See you soon!

It’s time! My Focus list for 2013:

1. In love, I speak out for peace and justice in my community and in the world.
2. I am dedicated to my artistic vision. I regularly offer written work and photographic art to the public.
3. I enjoy close, loving relationships with my children, my friends and my husband.
4. I lavishly care for my physical, emotional and spiritual health.
5. I speak a foreign language.
6. I explore, near and far.
7. I attract abundance. I am debt-free, wise-spending, and generous.

Every year, I complete a focus list, so I know where to place most of my time and energy. See the FOCUS page for details about creating your own focus list.

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“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”– African proverb

Have you ever had an epiphany? I’ve found it’s usually something quite simple that *suddenly* (cue God-light and angel-choir) echoes, reverberates, and grows to a deep GONG in my soul. In an instant, the plain becomes profound.

That’s what happened today when I read this proverb on my son-in-law’s Facebook page.

Historically, I’ve preferred to be a loner, both professionally and academically. Why? I didn’t want to be “slowed down’ in my pursuits. I like speed! A friend used to joke, “Cherie is a hummingbird – she never stops moving. Occasionally she hovers in place long enough to drink her weight in nectar, then she’s OFF again.”

The problem is, decades of non-stop flight takes a toll. I’m TIRED. But I still have goals, dreams – I have many roads I wish to travel before the end. What’s the solution? GO TOGETHER. We’ll all get there if we walk arm-in-arm.

My resolve for the new year:  to hold hands with those around me (join us!) and skip through life’s adventures.  Happy New Year!